Episode 136 The Murder of Stringbean Akeman The Kentucky Wonder

Southern Mysteries Podcast

Shannon Ballard

True Crime, Society & Culture, History

4.8 • 918 Ratings

🗓️ 13 November 2023

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

David Stringbean Akeman was one of the biggest stars on the Grand Ole Opry throughout the 1950s. The accomplished banjo player rose to national fame thanks to his appearances on the country variety show Hee Haw. In November 1973, Stringbean and his wife Estelle were murdered at their cabin just outside Nashville. Their deaths forever changed Music City. Want more Southern Mysteries? Hear the Southern Mysteries show archive of 60+ episodes along with Patron exclusive podcast, Audacious: Tales of American Crime and more when you become a patron of the show. You can immediately access exclusive content now at patreon.com/southernmysteries Connect Website: southernmysteries.comFacebook: Southern Mysteries PodcastTwitter: @southernpod_Instagram: @shannonballard_Email: [email protected] Episode Sources Stringbean: The Life and Murder of a Country Music Legend by Taylor Hagood. University Press of MS (May 2023). https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p087110 Birthplace of Country Music Museum. (2023, May 16). BCM Museum Speaker Sessions - Stringbean: The Life & Murder with Taylor Hagood. Youtube. (https://youtu.be/xYGB3f1ZRM0?si=XKRfNATk4xo9rbv4). Nashville Bar Association. (2019, June 6). The Stringbean Murders: Death in Baker Holler | Part 1.Youtube. (https://youtu.be/8-lAR_lHeG0?si=TtXFat3yJ4GQAC6h). Nashville Bar Association. (2019, June 6). The Stringbean Murders: Death in Baker Holler | Part 2.Youtube. (https://youtu.be/QK9JVZdm1_M?si=nqaQTf-HNAohFC1_). Bluegrass Baseball: Barnstorming Band and Ball Club, Society for American Baseball Research. (Viewed November 1, 2023) <http://research.sabr.org/journals/bluegrass-baseball-barnstorming-band-and-ball-club> Stringnbean Akeman and Wife are Slain, The Advocate-Messenger, November 12, 1973. (Viewed November 4, 2023) <https://www.newspapers.com/image/143221098> Killers Missed $5700, The Tennessean, November 12, 1973.(Viewed November 2, 2023) <https://www.newspapers.com/image/112272973> End of Innocence, The Tennessean, November 10, 2013. (Viewed November 2, 2023)<https://www.newspapers.com/image/105312207> A Tribute to Stringbean, The Fort Worth Telegram Star, November 13, 1973. (Viewed November 3, 2023) <https://www.newspapers.com/image/633207504> 'Stringbean' Akeman's killer gets parole,Tennessean,Oct 14, 2014. (Viewed Nov 1, 2023) <www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/15/opry-star-stringbean-akemans-killer-gets-parole/17334979> Episode Music Theme Song “Dark & Troubled” by Pantherburn. Special thanks to Phillip St Ours for permission for use. Castleshire by Chris Haugen. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey there, it's Shannon Ballard.
0:02.1	If you're new to Southern Mysteries
0:03.7	and you like what you hear,
0:05.7	you should know this is an independent show
0:08.2	that's made possible by patrons supporting Southern Mysteries
0:12.2	on Patreon.
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0:20.0	the Southern Mysteries Archive of the first three seasons of the show, plus patron exclusive
0:25.7	episodes like the new audacious podcast that focuses on some of the most scandalous true crime
0:31.6	stories in American history.
0:34.0	Thanks to my new patrons helping make this episode possible.
0:38.0	Tracy from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and David, Rocky, and Ellen, who are listening and supporting from mysterious locations.
0:48.5	Your support means so much and I hope you enjoy catching up and listening to all the stories available to you as patrons.
0:57.0	Now for anyone listening who hasn't checked out the Southern Mysteries Patreon and you want to hear more content you can learn more and sign up to join today
1:06.4	at Patreon.com slash Southern Mysteries. David String Bean Aikman was one of the biggest stars on the Grand Ole
1:25.0	Opry throughout the 1950s. An accomplished banjo player. He rose to national
1:31.5	fame in the 60s and 70s thanks to his role on the country music and comedy variety show he-haw
1:39.4	Stringbean was a singer songwriter
1:42.4	musician comedian was a singer-songwriter, musician, comedian, and semi-professional baseball player who was respected
1:48.8	and beloved by his country music peers and fans.
1:53.7	In November 1973, the country music world
	...

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